Reclaimed Wood Projects

Here are a few things things J made me, all from reclaimed wood.

This is just a shelf he made with no purpose in mind. I filled it quickly.

These are some spice racks. I am very short so reaching and seeing things on the second shelf is difficult. The things I use most are in the holders and easily accessible.

A simple way to organize measuring spoon by size.

Spice Blends

This will be just be a quick explanation of premixing spices.

Get all the spices you want in a mix. Find the right size spoon for each one.

Mix one or two batches in a bowl at a time.

Then pour it in a container. Label it.

Then label the back with the ratios you used. For Pumpkin Spice I use 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon allspice. 

To Crock or Not to Crock

For anyone who knows me, this is a common sight in my kitchen.

I am always running a crockpot. If we eat meat with bones in it, the bones get put in a crockpot with water and cooked on low or keep warm  for a day or two.  When it's done,  I can it  up and put it away.

I also render fat and make spaghetti sauce in a crockpot.  I use them to make the house smell nice with water and citrus fruit peels or essential oils.

But lately, I have to wonder how much energy are all these crockpots using.  Last year, I actually measured one. I forgot the numbers. It wasn't overly important because most of my crockpots are different sizes and brands.

Then I heard people discussing the Instapot. I had no idea what it was so I looked it up.  I like the idea behind it. I have my dad's old pressure cooker, but I am scared to use it due to its lack of a manual and age. (My dad passed on 9 years ago so I can't ask him.) Then it hit me: I could use the pressure canner to make the stock right in the jars.

The first time I tried this, I put a ham bone with fat in a half gallon jar and processed it for 25 minutes, the length I would process stock.  When it was done, it looked pale and didn't seal.  I tried it again, this time I processed it for an  hour; its color looked good.

Next I did pork stock made from pork chop bones.  In each jar I added some of the juice in the pan.  I did the same with chicken bones. All the stock has turned out with a nice color.

It does look less pretty due to the bones floating around in it, but I am enjoying having less ( some times no) crockpots plugged in and taking up a whole counter.